Base lock for vises



y 4 R. M. NELSON 2,471,444

BASE LOOK FOR VISES Filed May 2, 1945 I V 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1949. R. M.NELSON 2,471,444

BASE LOCK FOR VIBES Filed May 2, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 YIIIIIIII 57 InnInn mil m. .-1\

May 31, 1949. R. M. NELSON BASE LOOK FOR VISES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMay 2, 1945 nnmmmmmmmmmm m|mummmnnmmnmmmmmnnuummmummummunmrIIIIIIHIHIMIMIIHM ilP -irH Patented May 31, 1949 BASE LOOK FOR VISES RayM. Nelson, Rock'Island, 111., assignor to Bintman. Electric CompanyApplication May 2', 1945, Serial No. 591,548

10 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a quick-opening vise in which the movable jawstructure of the vise can readily be moved to. desired positionrelativeto the fixedljaw structure, and relates-also to an automatic lock forlooking a vise in any desired position on: its base. 7

The ordinary machinists vise has two clamping jaws, onefixedin positionand the other-movable relative thereto. These Vises include a threadedbolt extending; from the movable jaw to the fixed'jaw, employedfortighteningiandal'oosening thejaws. In suchza vise it is necessary. toune screwxthe. bolt when it is desired to open thevise for a largerpiece ofwork. The opening of the jaws by unscrewing the-bolt: isslowandlaboripus.

I. have invented aquickactingvise wherein the movable jaw structuremaybe readily-disengaged from the fixed jaw. structureand moved to anydesired position without requiring the unscrewing of the bolt necessaryin opening the old'yises. In

my new vise the movable jaw maybe positioned.

whereverdesired relative to the fixed jaw struc ture,. the work placed.within the jaws,. and the jaws then tightened by turning the bolt,.as inthe old Vises. I have also invented anautomatically locking base for thevise in which the body portion of the vise is locked to the base in. anydesired position relative thereto by merely tightening the bolt to clampthe jaws together. The vise which is the subject of this invention is ofsimple and sturdy construction, and permits the worker to do his workmore efiiciently than he wasable-to-with the prior Vises.

The invention will be described as. related to a typical embodiment ofthe same set out in the accompanying drawings. Ofthe'drawings, Fig. 1 isa sideelevation of a vise embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a planview of the vise of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken alongline'3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 41s a vertical'section taken along line 44 ofFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5of Fig. 3; Fig.6 is a horizontalsectiontaken along line 6-6 of Fig; 3; Fig. 7- is avertical sectionsimilar toFig. 3 'but showingthe' vise in open position;Fig. 8 is a horizontal-section taken along line 88 of Fig. '7.

Thevise shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a base It];a:fixedjaw 'structure-H, rotatably mounted by means of screw I? onthebase, and a movable jaw structure I'3. The movable j aw structure hasa horizontalelongated section 14 inserted in an-opening in thefixedjawstructure. Thiselongated section: M carries a threaded screw15'' in its interior, which: engages-an elongated nut I 5, also withinthe horizontal section 14. The bolt and nut are both capable of movementwith the movable jaw structure. The bolt i5 issrotaitablyi held withinthe elongated section liby 'meansiof a mounted plate ll at the rearofthe Vise and a-. collar l8 engaging a downward projecting portion 19athat is located at the front ofa the Vise; This collar is held in placeby means of aheadless screw l9 bearing upon the bolt l5. At the front ofthe bolt, and pressing against the downwardtprojeotw ing portion lea,there is located the usual enlarged: head 2i that serves as a mountingfor aleven'22. This lever is used for turning the threaded bolt I5.

The elongated nut leis providedion'itsioottoni with serrations 23forminga rack, with each serraw tion having a rear portion substantiallyvertical; and a front portion slopingdownward. Mounted beneath theelongated nut and within the bottom of the fixed jaw structure is aratchet-24 having? serrations on its top surface normally engaging;those ofthe elongated nut la. The serrations on;- the ratchet 25, aresimilar in shape to those on =the nut It, but are positioned oppositethereto so that the ratchet 24' and nut l6 are normally in closelyengaged relationship. In order to. provide this. close engagement theratchet. is. normally: urged upward by means of the. spring 25. Theratchet 24 and spring 25 are bothmounted'in a depression 28 in a ratchetholding member 421 which is loosely mounted in the base of thefixed jawstructure.

In order to provide for disengaging the ratchet 24 from the elongatednut it there is provided a. horizontal opening iilnear the top oftheratch'et. Through this hole there extends a horizontal'bar.

28' arranged beneath the nut l6 andJsubstanti'aIly" horizontal bar 28down. This serves to disengage:

the-ratchet 25 from the nut l6. Inorder toguide the horizontal bar 28 inits movement; there' is provided near the rearof the elongated section-14i a horizontal pin 3i, extending at right angles to' the bar through avertical slot 32'; Grooves-33 and 34 "(see Figs. 7 and 8) are providedintlrei vise b'ew neath'the bar 28 to permit movement -of th'e bar.

The quick opening vise operates as follows: When the vise is in clampingposition as shown in Fi 3, the :bolt 15 is turned in a counterclockwisedirection looking from the front of the vise, in order to release themovable jaw structure !3. The turning of the vise in thecounterclockwise direction for about one-half a turn causes theelongated nut It to move backward along the bolt. The backward movementpushes the horizontal bar 28 down when the studs 30 press against theraised portion 29 of the bar. This also pushes the ratchet 24 downagainst the action of ratchet spring 25, and disengages the serratedportion of the ratchet from the serrated portion of the nut Hi. In thisposition the movable jaw structure can be moved to any desired positionrelative to the fixed jaw structure. The work can then be placed betweenthe jaws 35 and the vise tightened by turning the bolt I in clockwisedirection. The clockwise turning serves to pull the nut forward andpermit the bar 28 and ratchet 24 to move back to its normal positionunder the influence of ratchet spring 25. In this position theserrations on the ratchet enga e the serrations on the nut. Due to theparticular shape of the serrations, further tightening of the bolt I5serves to draw the jaws 35 tightly together, thereby binding the workbetween the hardened steel surfaces 36 of the laws 35.

The vise illustrated in the accompanying drawings also inc1udes anautomatic lock for locking the rotatable portion of the vise to itsbase. This locking mechanism works automatically as the vise jaws aretightened around work held therebetween.

In the base H] of the vise there is provided a circular groove 31 havinga bottom portion of greater cross-sectional area than the top. Withinthe groove is located a vertical bolt 38 extending up into the rotatableportion of the vise. This bolt has a slanting wedge near the end 39,with the slope of the wedge being away from the vise. This wedge is heldin place by means of a nut 40 on the end of the vertical bolt 38. Thewedge 39 engages a wedge-shaped portion 4| on the bottom of therotatable part of the vise. The wedge-shaped portion M is a part of thatportion of the fixed jaw structure which holds the ratchet 2 Thisportion 42 has a top surrounding the elongated nut I6, which is slidablymounted therein. The ratchet holding portion 42 is loosely mountedwithin the bottom of the fixed jaw structure so that it is free to movehorizontally from front to back of the vise. In order to permit thismovement to be unrestrained, the bolt 38 extending from the base to therotatable portion of the vise extends through a hole 43 in the wedgeshaped portion, and this hole is considerably larger than the bolt. Theratchet holding portion 42 is normally held toward the rear of the viseby means of a spring 44.

The automatic locking device operates as follows: When the vise is inopen position as shown in Fig. 7 the spring 44 pushes the ratchetholding portion 42 toward the rear of the vise. This permits the twowedge shaped portions 39, 4! to fit loosely against each other and thuspermit easy rotation of the vise. As soon as work is placed between thejaws 35, and the bolt I5 is rotated to slide the nut 16 and cause itsengagement with ratchet 2d, the pull on the ratchet forces the holdingportion 42 toward the .front of the vise, and locks the two wedges 39,4| to- '4 gether. This locking of the wedges locks the vise firmly onits base.

Having described by invention in considerable detail as related to atypical embodiment of the same, it is my intentions that the inventionbe not limited by any of these details unless otherwise specified, butrather be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of theaccompanying claims.

Attention is directed to my co-pending application, Serial No. 590,762,filed April 28, 1945, wherein other features of th vise are claimed.

I claim:

1. A vise comprising .a base, a body portion rotatably mounted on thebase, a fixed jaw structure forming a part of said body portion, amovable jaw structure movable within said body portion, a rotatable boltin said movable jaw structure, a nut in which the bolt turns forclamping the two jaws of the vise together, serrations on said nut, awedge member having an inclined face and movably attached to the base, asec ond wedge member having a face inclined oppositely to that of thefirst wedge member and adapted to cooperate therewith, said second wedgemember being movably mounted in the body portion for cooperation withthe first wedge member, a ratchet in said second wedge member havingserrations thereon for cooperation with the serrations provide on thenut whereby the movable second wedge member is moved into wedgingrelationship with the first wedge memher which is held tightly againstthe base as the jaws are tightened by rotation of the bolt, and springmeans for normally holding the two wedge members apart when the ratchetis out of engagement with said nut.

2. A vise comprising a base, a body portion rotatably mounted on thebase, a fixed jaw structure forming a part of said body portion, amovable jaw structure movable within said body portion, a rotatable boltin said movable jaw structure, a nut in which the bolt turns forclamping the two jaws of the vise together, serrations on said nut, awedge member attached to the base, a second wedge member movably mountedin the :body portion for cooperation with the first wedge member, saidfirst wedge member being rotatable with the body portion of the visewhen the two wedge members are out of wedging contact, a ratchet in saidsecond wedge member movable into and out of contact with the nut andhaving serrations thereon for cooperation with the serrations providedon the nut whereby the movable second wedge member is moved into wedgingrelationship with the first as the jaws are tightened by rotation of thebolt, said movement being caused by movement of the nut along the bolt,and spring means for normally holding the two wedge members apart whenthe ratchet is out of engagement with said nut.

3. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein the first wedge member extendsfrom the base through the second wedge member.

4. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein the first wedge member extendsfrom the base through the second wedge member with the base end of thefirst wedge member moving in a circular groove in the base when the viseis rotated.

5. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein there are provided means formoving the ratchet out of contact with the nut when it is desired torotate the body of the vise on its base and to move the ratchet intocontact with the nut when it is desired simultaneously to tighten thejaws of the vise and lock the vise on its base.

6. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein there are provided means formoving the ratchet out of contact with the nut when it is desired torotate the body of the vise on its base and to move the ratchet intocontact with the nut when it is desired simultaneously to tighten thejaws of the vise and lock the vise on its base, said means beingoperated by rotation of the bolt.

7. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein there is provided an elongated.bar slidably mounted in the ratchet substantially parallel to the nut,and means extending from the nut in contact with the bar to displacesaid bar and thus remove the ratchet from contact with the nut when itis desired to rotate the body of the vise on its base.

8. A vise as set out in claim 2 wherein there is provided an elongatedbar slidably mounted in the ratchet substantially parallel to the nut, abeveled raised portion on the bar extending toward the nut, a studmounted on the nut and contacting the bar adjacent the front of saidraised portion so that rotation of the bolt in a direction opposite thatused in clamping the jaws causes the stud to move onto the raisedportion and displace the bar away from the nut, thereby removing theratchet from contact with the nut when it is desired to rotate the bodyof the vise on its base.

9. A vise comprising a base, a body portion rtatably mounted on thebase, a fixed jaw structure forming a part of said body portion, amovable jaw structure movable within said body portion, a rotatable boltin said movable jaw structure, a nut in which the bolt turns forclamping the two jaws of the vise together, serrations on said nut, awedge member having an inclined face and movably attached to the base, asecond wedge member having a face inclined oppositely to that of thefirst wedge member and adapted to cooperate therewith, said second wedgemember being movably mounted in the body portion for cooperation withthe first wedge member, and a ratchet in said second wedge member havingserrations thereon for cooperation with the serrations provided on thenut whereby the movable second wedge member is moved into wedgingrelationship with the first wedge member which is held tightly againstthe base as the jaws are tightened by rotation of .the bolt.

10. A vise comp-rising a base, a body portion rotatably mounted on thebase, a fixed jaw structure forming a part of said body portion, amovable jaw structure mevable within said body portion, a rotatable beltin said movable jaw structure, a nut in which the bolt turns forclamping the two jaws of the vise together, serrations on said nut, awedge member attached to the base, a second wedge member movably mountedin the body portion for cooperation with the first wedge member, saidfirst wedge member being rotatable with the body portion of the visewhen the two wedge members are out of wedging contact, and a ratchet insaid second member movable into and out of contact with the nut andhaving serrations thereon for cooperation with the serrations providedon the nut whereby the movable second wedge member is moved into wedgingrelationship with the first as the jaws are tightened by rotation of thebolt, said movement being caused by movementof the nut along the bolt.

RAY M. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Patented May 31, 1949 BASE LOOK FOR VISES Ray M.Nelson, Rock'Island, 111., assignor to Bintman. Electric CompanyApplication May 2', 1945, Serial No. 591,548

10 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a quick-opening vise in which the movable jawstructure of the vise can readily be moved to. desired positionrelativeto the fixedljaw structure, and relates-also to an automatic lock forlooking a vise in any desired position on: its base. 7

The ordinary machinists vise has two clamping jaws, onefixedin positionand the other-movable relative thereto. These Vises include a threadedbolt extending; from the movable jaw to the fixed'jaw, employedfortighteningiandal'oosening thejaws. In suchza vise it is necessary. toune screwxthe. bolt when it is desired to open thevise for a largerpiece ofwork. The opening of the jaws by unscrewing the-bolt: isslowandlaboripus.

I. have invented aquickactingvise wherein the movable jaw structuremaybe readily-disengaged from the fixed jaw. structureand moved to anydesired position without requiring the unscrewing of the bolt necessaryin opening the old'yises. In

my new vise the movable jaw maybe positioned.

whereverdesired relative to the fixed jaw struc ture,. the work placed.within the jaws,. and the jaws then tightened by turning the bolt,.as inthe old Vises. I have also invented anautomatically locking base for thevise in which the body portion of the vise is locked to the base in. anydesired position relative thereto by merely tightening the bolt to clampthe jaws together. The vise which is the subject of this invention is ofsimple and sturdy construction, and permits the worker to do his workmore efiiciently than he wasable-to-with the prior Vises.

The invention will be described as. related to a typical embodiment ofthe same set out in the accompanying drawings. Ofthe'drawings, Fig. 1 isa sideelevation of a vise embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a planview of the vise of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken alongline'3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 41s a vertical'section taken along line 44 ofFig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5-5of Fig. 3; Fig.6 is a horizontalsectiontaken along line 6-6 of Fig; 3; Fig. 7- is avertical sectionsimilar toFig. 3 'but showingthe' vise in open position;Fig. 8 is a horizontal-section taken along line 88 of Fig. '7.

Thevise shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a base It];a:fixedjaw 'structure-H, rotatably mounted by means of screw I? onthebase, and a movable jaw structure I'3. The movable j aw structure hasa horizontalelongated section 14 inserted in an-opening in thefixedjawstructure. Thiselongated section: M carries a threaded screw15'' in its interior, which: engages-an elongated nut I 5, also withinthe horizontal section 14. The bolt and nut are both capable of movementwith the movable jaw structure. The bolt i5 issrotaitablyi held withinthe elongated section liby 'meansiof a mounted plate ll at the rearofthe Vise and a-. collar l8 engaging a downward projecting portion 19athat is located at the front ofa the Vise; This collar is held in placeby means of aheadless screw l9 bearing upon the bolt l5. At the front ofthe bolt, and pressing against the downwardtprojeotw ing portion lea,there is located the usual enlarged: head 2i that serves as a mountingfor aleven'22. This lever is used for turning the threaded bolt I5.

The elongated nut leis providedion'itsioottoni with serrations 23forminga rack, with each serraw tion having a rear portion substantiallyvertical; and a front portion slopingdownward. Mounted beneath theelongated nut and within the bottom of the fixed jaw structure is aratchet-24 having? serrations on its top surface normally engaging;those ofthe elongated nut la. The serrations on;- the ratchet 25, aresimilar in shape to those on =the nut It, but are positioned oppositethereto so that the ratchet 24' and nut l6 are normally in closelyengaged relationship. In order to. provide this. close engagement theratchet. is. normally: urged upward by means of the. spring 25. Theratchet 24 and spring 25 are bothmounted'in a depression 28 in a ratchetholding member 421 which is loosely mounted in the base of thefixed jawstructure.

In order to provide for disengaging the ratchet 24 from the elongatednut it there is provided a. horizontal opening iilnear the top oftheratch'et. Through this hole there extends a horizontal'bar.

28' arranged beneath the nut l6 andJsubstanti'aIly" horizontal bar 28down. This serves to disengage:

the-ratchet 25 from the nut l6. Inorder toguide the horizontal bar 28 inits movement; there' is provided near the rearof the elongated section-14i a horizontal pin 3i, extending at right angles to' the bar through avertical slot 32'; Grooves-33 and 34 "(see Figs. 7 and 8) are providedintlrei vise b'ew neath'the bar 28 to permit movement -of th'e bar.

